Military religious orders were the main characteristic combination of military and religious life with the discipline and training necessary for the martial enfrentmiento in combat but also the theological, life without luxuries and strengthening their Christian faith.
Some of these orders also attended to the sick and poor. Institutions were shaped mainly by men but the nuns could also join a convent of the order.

The orders were governed by the Master was the highest authority of the order, with an almost absolute power, both in the military, as in politics or religion.

The Master was chosen by the council, composed of thirteen monks, where the name derives from 'Thirteen'. The teacher was responsible for life and his death Thirteen, called by the couple prior to the order, choose the new.

The army did the teacher, followed by higher commander. The outstanding figure of the second lieutenant was at first, but in the Middle Ages desapareciio. The command's strengths lay in the hands of the leader or a governor.

Military and religious orders had possessions and members throughout Western Europe.

The military and religious orders were important transmitters of social innovations, culturalel and techniques, such as banking infrastructure implemented by the Templars.

Some say that the Christian military orders, including the Templars, tubieron its origin in certain models such as the Islamic Shiite sect of Hashshashin.

During the Middle Ages, there were military orders indigenous throughout Europe while sharing many similarities also had its own characteristics, due to circumstances marked by the confrontation between Muslims and Christians.

Spain in the initiation and expansion of these orders was due to progress known as the Christian reconquest.